Jewelry clasp



J. M. LEVY JEWELRY CLASP Dec. 28, 1965 Filed May 8, 1964 INVENTOR Joseph /7. levy United States Patent 3,225,406 JEWELRY CLASP Joseph M. Levy, 1306 Carlton House, Pittsburgh, Pa. Filed May 8, 1964, Ser. No. 366,097 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-230) This invention relates to clasps associated with the jewelry art and more particularly to a clasp assembly for use with necklaces and the like.

Clasps of this nature are sometimes called box clasps and are used for connecting the ends of a single necklace. Other clasps have elongated bodies provided with means therealong such as hooks for detachably connecting the ends of more than one necklace, and if a single necklace is used with such clasps, the other means or hooks are exposed and detract from the general appearance of the jewelry item and further provides a loop which may readily catch objects and cause other annoyances to the wearer.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a clasp assembly that will facilitate assemblage of a pair of necklaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp assembly consisting of a pair of box-type clasps that may be slidably joined together side by side without the use of separate joining elements and that will resist the separating tendency of pulling pressures exerted upon the bracelet ends.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clasp assembly which may be completely disengaged from the bracelets or the like when desired, but will not become disengaged with a longitudinal pull is exerted thereupon.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective View of a clasp assembly embodying the invention shown joining a pair of necklaces.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the clasp assembly of FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is an end view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a similar view in disassembled condition.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view on a larger scale in disassembled condition, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings, wherein similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts throughout, in FIG. 1 a clasp assembly 10 embodying the invention is shown joining the ends of a pair of necklaces 12, 12. Each necklace consists of a string of beads 14 with loops or links 16 at the ends thereof.

The link assembly 10 as shown in detail in FIGS. 2 to 6, inclusive, comprises a pair of clasp units 18 and 20. Each unit consists of a hollow rectangular-shaped body 22 of sheet metal having a top wall 24, side walls 26, 27, a bottom wall 28, a rear end wall 30 and an open front end wall 32. The top wall 24 is formed with an ornamental projection 34 centrally thereof. The rear end wall 30 has means associated therewith to secure one end of one of the necklaces 16 and this end may be provided with an eye loop device 36.

The front end wall 32 has an elongated closed opening 38 therein which extends along the front wall at the bottom portion thereof. The upper portion of the end wall 32 defines a downwardly extending flange portion 40 3,225,406 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 which is intersected midway thereof with a vertical slot 42.

A resilient spring metal element generally designated 44 is associated with the hollow body 22. The element 44 has a flat plate-like base portion 46 having means at one end associated therewith in the form of an eye 48 to allow the attachment of the other end of the necklace 16. The other end of the base portion 46 remote from the eye 48 is turned upon itself forming a loop 50, the loop 50 continuing toward the eye end of the base portion 46 at an inclined angle to the base portion, thereby forming an elongated tongue 52. The rear shouldered end edge 54 of the tongue snaps into seating relationship against the inner surface of the flange 40 of the front end wall 32. In order that the resilient tongue may be disengaged from this position, the rear edge 54 thereof is provided with an operating means shown herein in the form of an integral curved finger 56. The curved finger 56 is adapted to pass through the slot portion 42 of the front wall 32 and thus allow the shouldered end edge 54 of the tongue 52 to fully seat behind the flange 40 and prevent accidental Withdrawal of the element 44. Thus, when the finger 56 is depressed, the end edge 54 of the resilient tongue will move below the flange 40 and the resilient element 44 may be withdrawn from fully within the hollow body 22 to the position shown in FIG. 5.

In accordance with the present invention, the body 22 of one of the clasp units, for example, the unit 18, is formed with an angular extension 60 along one of its side walls 26, extending the length thereof. The extension comprises a narrow flange 62 projecting perpendicularly to the plane of the wall 26, adjacent the top thereof. The flange 62 terminates at its outer edge in another narrow flange 64 extending parallel to the plane of the side wall 26, the flanges 62 and 64 and the side wall 26 defining an elongated groove or clearance 66 extending the length of the side wall.

The body 22 of the other clasp unit 20 is formed with an elongated slot or opening 68 along one side wall 26 thereof, extending the length of the side wall. At the rear end of the body 22, the edge walls of the slot 68 taper slightly outwardly providing a wide mouth portion 70 to facilitate entrance of the end of the extension 60 of the unit 18, into the slot, and to guide the jointure of the units whereby the top walls 24 and the bottom walls 28 are brought into proper orientation.

In use, the clasp units 18 and 20 are joined together in side-by-side relation with the top and bottom walls in the same planes as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This is accomplished by sliding the unit 20 along the unit 18 by inserting the mouth end 70'of the slot 68 over one end of extension 60 and sliding said unit 20 inwardly along the extension to the other end thereof, whereby one edge wall of the slot 68 will ride along the groove or clearance 66 and the flanges 62 and 64 will interlock with the edge walls of the slot 68, as seen in FIG. 6. A pair of necklaces 12, 12 may be readily attached to and supported by the pair of clasp units 18, 20 by hooking the end loops 16 at the ends of the necklaces into the eyes 36 and into the eyes 48 as shown in FIG. 1. The necklaces may be just as readily detached from one end of the clasp units for removal from the neck of the wearer by pressing the finger or fiingers 56 toward the shoulders 54 of the tongues down below the flanges 40 and then pulling outwardly on the resilient elements 44. This can be done by the sense of feel when manipulated behind the head of the wearer as is usual.

It will be appreciated that the abutment of the shouldered end edge 54 of the tongue 52 against the flange 40 of the body 22 provides positive assurance against accidental separation of the clasp parts.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the ppended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure my United States Letters Patent is:

A clasp assembly comprising a pair of twin clasp units in side-by-side relationship, each unit having a rectangularshaped hollow body with side and front and rear end walls, eyes on the rear walls for attaching one end of a pair of necklaces, the front end walls having slots, detachable resilient elements in the slots of the front walls, means on said elements for attaching the other end of the necklaces, one unit having an elongated slot extending the entire length of one side wall thereof and entirely through said one side wall, the other unit having an elongated extension on one side wall thereof coacting with the slot in the said one unit, said extension including a flange protruding outwardly and perpendicularly of the side wall extending the length of said side wall and another flange protruding perpendicularly of said first-named flange from the edge thereof, said first-named flange being slidably received in said elongated slot, said second named flange interlocking with the inside surface of the side wall of said one unit, said front end walls having downwardly extending flanges intersecting the slots in said front end Walls, said detachable resilient elements each having a base portion and an inclined resilient tongue extending therefrom for insertion into one of said slots, said tongue having a shouldered end edge seating against one of said flanges when in raised position, and a finger piece integral with said tongue for depressing the same toward said base portion to unseat the tongue from the flange.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,853,111 4/ 1932 Bienenfeld 24230 2,486,681 11/1949 Reiss 24230 2,540,426 2/1951 Campbell 2483 2,986,792 6/1961 Wyatt 24-230 FOREIGN PATENTS 242,575 1/ 1963 Australia. 1,142,207 9/ 1957 France. 1,203,255 1/1960 France.

909,150 10/ 1962 Great Britain.

\VILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Examiner. 

